Electric switch



w. Got-F 1,726,392 ELECTRI-G swn-cn,

Filed July 9, 1926 ZSheets-Sheet 1 F'ig 1. I

lhventor' Robert W Goff} Aug. 27, 1929. w, GOFF I 1,726,392

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet' '2 Inventor: Rob ertW Goff.

His Attorney;

Patented Aug. 27, 1929. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. GOFF, OE SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed July 9,

My present invention relates to electric switches and it provides improved means for controlling the operation of a movable circuit controlling member between a plurality of positions.

More specifically, the invention in one of its aspects provides an improved operating and latching mechanism whereby a circuit controlling member may be operated to onev 10 position and then be latched in that position independently of the operating means, and subsequently be released for operation to another position upon operation of the operating means.

Thus, when an electromagnet is employed for operating the switch, the electromagnet need be energized only momentarily to effect the operation of the circuit controlling memher to either position. Moreover, in case the operating electromagnet is of the normally energized type, the switch may be maintained in one position during an accidental deenergization of the operating electromagnet, and operated to another position upon a subsequent intentional deenergization of the operating electromagnet.

Although not necessarily limited thereto, a switch embodying the improvements of the present invention is of particular utility in the control of street lighting circuits. In such service, it is often desirable to control the ener ization and deenergization of one street lig ting circuit through the agency of another street lighting circuit, thus eliminating the necessity for separate control wires and switching apparatus.

This readily may be accomplished with my improved form of switch with the additional advantage that the controlled street lighting circuit is maintained energized, even though the controlling street lighting circuit should be accidentally deenergized. At the same time, my improved switch mechanism permits deenergization of the controlled street lighting circuit upon an intentional subsequent deenergization of the controlling street lighting circuit.

The invention further contemplates an improved manually operated arrangement whereby an electromagnetically operated switch may be rendered unresponsive to energization of the controlling circuit and the switch operated manually to either the open or the closed position. In street lighting service, this facilitates inspection and testing 1926. Serial No. 121,468.

of the lighting circuit controlled by the switch, and also insures safety to the inspector.

In carrying the invention into effect in a preferred form of electromagnetically operated switch, the operating electromagnet is arranged to close the switch whenever the magnet is energized. A latching mechanism for mechanically holding the switch in the closed position is arranged to be controlled by the operating electromagnet so that the latch is rendered effective upon each alternate closure of the switch. Thus, when the switch is initially closed and the operating electromagnet is deenergized, the latch serves to maintain the switch in the closed position independently of the electromagnet. Upon subsequent energization of the operating electromagnet, the latch is permitted to return to the released position and thereby insure that the switch is opened upon the next subsequent deenergization of the operating electromagnet. In this way, as the operating electromagnet is successively energized and deenergized, the switch is closed and maintained closed during each alternate cycle of energization and deenergization. The invention, however, is not limited to an electromagnetic switch, as it may be applied with equal advantage to switches operated by other means.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention embodied in a preferred form in an electromagnetically operated street lighting control switch. Fig. 1 is a perspective View schematically showing the general structure of the switch as well as the connection of the switch to both the controlling and the controlled street lighting circuit, and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detailed views showing the relative positions of the several elements of the switch operating and latching mechanism during different phases of operation of the switch.

In Fig. 1 the switch is shown as of the high voltage, double blade, double breaker type having the movable switch element operable into engagement with the two sets of stationary contacts 11 and 12 to energize a suitable transformer 13 preferably of the constant current type through which the controlled series lighting circuit 14 is energized from the supply lines 15. The supply lines 15 conveniently may be of the ordinary constant potential type.

The two blades or bridging members of the movable switch element in the preferred construction shown in the drawing are'mounted in a block 16 of insulating material which is-carried loosely upon the bolts 17 to be operated by the movable magnetic armature or core 18 of the double coil operating electromagnet 19. In the street lighting control system illustrated, the switch operating electromagnet 19 is connected directly'inthe lighting circuit 20 which is supplied with current from the supply lines 21 which, in accordance with theusual practice, may be of the constant current type. Thus, it will be seen that whenever the control switch 22 is closed to energize the series lighting circuit 20, the

operating electromagnet 19 is energized t0 lift its armature or core 18 and operate the movable circuit controlling element 10 into engagement with the contacts 11 and 12 and thereby effect the energization of the controlled lighting circuit 14. The yielding contact tips 23 with which the movable circuit controlling element 10 is provided, as well as the loose mounting of the block 16 upon the bolts 17, readily permits adjustment and equalization of the contact pressure of the bridging element 10 upon the 30 stationary contacts 11 and 12.

In accordance with my inventionpan improved form of latching mechanismis provlded for maintaining the bridging member 10 in engagement with the stationary contacts 11 and 12 independently of the operating electromagnet 19 during each alternate deenergization thereof. In the preferred form shown, the latch mechanism comprises the notched latching disk 24, whlch is pivotally mounted to rotate upon the fixed supporting shaft 25 beneath the lower side of the block 16 and therabyxmechanically latch the bridging member 10 in the closed position. The latching disk 24 1s blased to the released position by gravity. The auxiliary notched disk 26 also is biased to the position shoWn in Fig. 1 and cooperates with the operating pin 27, which is secured at each end to the tension springs 28, and slides in the slotted links 29 to control the operation of the latching disk 24 to and from the latching position upon alternate energization of the operating electromagnet 19 in a. manner which will be descrlbed more fully hereinafter in connectionwith the operation of the street lighting control system embodying the switch.

In order to remove control of the operation of the switch from the operating elec-' tromagnet 19, as well as to permit manual operation of the switch to either the open or the closed position, the manual operating handle 30 is arranged to control the switch 31, which short circuits the coils of the operatmg electromagnet 19 and also, through ing ele'ctromagnet 19 are short circuited and the operation of the switch is no longer controlled by the energization and deenergization of the series lighting circuit 20. With thehandle30 in position C, the switch 10 is arranged to be manually operated to the closed position.

With the manual operating handle 30 in the automatic position A, the operation of my improved switch to permit control of the auxiliary. series lighting circuit 14 through the agency of the main series lighting circuit-20' is as follows: Upon closure of control switch 22 to energize the main series lighting circuit 20, the operating electromagnet 19 also is energized and attracts its armature or core 18 to lift the movable switch bridging member 10 into engagement with the stationary contacts 11 and 12, as previously described. movement of the operating armature or core 18 with the latching mechanism in the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the latch operating pin 27 is carried into the coinciding hooked notches 34 and 35 with which the latching disk 24 and the cooperating disk 26 are respectively provided. Since the vertical edge 36 of the latching disk 24 engages with the right hand side ofthe insulating block 16, rotation of the latching disk 24 about the pivot shaft 25 is prevented. 'Under these conditions, the latch operating pin 27 is held stationary by the latch 24, thereby causing the springs 28 to be extended and the slotted links 29 to slide up along the pin 27. However, as soon as the insulating block 16 is raised slightly above the top edge of the latching disk 24, the rotation of the disk is no longer restrained and the tension of springs 28 serves to quickly rotate the latching disk 24, together with the cooperating disk 26, in a counter-clockwise direction, thus carrying the latching disk 24 beneath the insulating block 16 and mechanically latching the switch member 10 in the closed position, as shown in Fig; 3.

If, now, by reason of a ground or other abnormal condition, the series lighting circuit 20 should be disk 24 serves to switch member 10 in the closed position i11- dependently of the operating electromagnet 19, thereby preventing accidental interrup- Upon upward deenergized, the latching maintain the bridging electromagnet 19 tion of the series lighting circuit 20 from being relayed to the auxiliary lighting circuit 14. In this way, continuity of energization of the auxiliary seriesdighting circuit 14 is insured, even though the controlling lighting clrcuit is accidentally deenergized.

Upon the deener ization of the operating.

ue to the accidental interruption of the series lighting circuit 20 or from any other cause, the operating core 18 returns into en agement with the fixed stops 37, the bolts 1 providing a lost motion connection between the insulating block 16 and the core 18 which serves readily to permit the return of the operating core 18 to the position in which it is shown in engagement with the stops 37, even though the circuit controllin element 10 is maintained in the closed position by the latching disk 24, as indicated in Fig. 4. As the core 18 returns to its biased position, the latch operating pin 27 is maintained in engagement with the upper end of the slots in the links 29, and in this way is moved out of engagement with I the notches 34 and 35 in the disks 24 and 26.

This permits the disk 26 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the shaft 25 in accordance with its bias, until rotation of the disk 26 is stopped by the interlocking pin 38 which is carried by the latching disk 24.

The several elements of the operating latching mechanism of the switch now are in the relative positions indicated in Fig. 4. It will be observed that under these conditions the notches 34 and 35 in the disks 24 and 26 no lon or are coincident, but each notch is covered by the other disk, thus presenting a continuous unbroken surface over which the latch operating pin 27 may slide upon the operation of the core 18 to the attracted position. Thus, when operating electromagnet 19 is reenergized, the core 18: is

attracted and the lostmotion connection between the core and the insulating block'16' is takenup and the latching pin 27 simply rides along the continuous rounded surface formed by the edges of the disks 24 and 26'. (hen the lost motion between the core 18 and the insulating block 16 is fully taken up, the block 16 is raised slightly from the latching disk 24, thereby permitting the lat- 'ter to rotate in a clockwise direction, in accordanace with its bias, and return to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The switch now is in condition to interrupt the energizing circuit of the auxiliaryl street lights 14 whenever the control switc v 22 is opened to deenergize the mam street lighting circuit 20. The resulting deenergization of operating'electromagnet 19' permits the core 18 to again drop into engagement with the stops 37. Since the latch 24 has been returned to the released position, the movable switch member 10 also drops to the open position in accordance with its bias. The various elements of the operating latching mechanism now are in their initial operating relation shown in Figs, 1 and 2, so that the cycle of operation upon subsequent energization and deenergization of the operating electromagnet 19 is exactly the same as previously described. The switch 10 is closed upon energization of the operating electromagnet, and mechanically latched in the closed position during the next subsequent deenergization of the electromagnet, while upon the next subsequent energization of the operating elcctromagnet, the latch is released so as to permit return of the switch to the open position upon the next subsequent deenergization of the electromagnet.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the electromagnetic switch embodying my present invention is always closed whenever the operating electromagnet is energized,'

but is opened only upon each alternate deenergization of the electromagnet, thereby insuring continuity of the auxiliary lighting circuit 14 through at least one accidental deenergization of the controlling lighting circuit 20'. In case no accidental deenergization of the operating electromagnet 19 occurs, it is only necessary to open, close and again reopen the control switch 22 toefi'ect the intentional interruption of the energizing circuit of the auxiliary lights 14.

In order to provide for the safe inspection or repair of the auxiliary series lighting circuit 14, the operating handle 30, as previously noted, is arranged to remove entirely the control of the operation of switch 10 from the serieslighting circuit 20. This is accomplished by operating the handle 30 into position B, wherein the insulating pin 39 moves the flexibly mounted contacts 40 into engagement, and thereby completes a short circuit around the operating electromagnet 19. With the operating electromagnet 19 short circuited, switch 10 remains in either the open or the closed position, irrespective of the energization and deenergization of the series lighting circuit 20. The switch 10 then may be operated between the open and the closed positions by moving the operating handle 30 between the positions B and C, so as to raise and lower the insulating block 16 through the agency of the push rod 32.and the pivoted lever 33, and thereby operate the latch mechanism through the same cycle of operation as described when the armature 18 was raised and lowered bythe operating electromagnet. The flexibile mounting of the contacts 40 permits the operating electromagnet to be maintained short circuited during the manual operation of switch 10.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Operating means for a device movable between two positions and biased to the first thereof, comprising an electromagnet having a magnetic element movable under the and connections between said device, said element, and said means through which one movement of said element effects operation of said device from the first to the second of said positions and operates said holding means into holding relation with said device to hold the device in the second position independently of said magnetic element, the said connections operating upon a subsequent predetermined cycle of movements of Said magnetic element to effect operation of said holding means to release the holding effect thereof and permit the magnetic element to hold the device in said second position independently of said holding means.

2. Operating means for a device movable between two positions and biased to the first thereof, comprising an electromagnethaving a magnetic movable element arranged to reciprocate under the control of the electromagnet, holding means for said device, said means being normally ineffective, and mechanical connections between said element, said device, and said means through which the initial operation of said element effects the operation of said device from the first to the second of said positions and renders said holding means effective to hold said device in the second position independently of said magnetic element, the said connections operating upon a subsequent predetermined cycle of reciprocations of said element to effect the release of said holding means and permit the magnetic element to hold the device in said second position independently of said holding means.

3. An electric switch comprising a movable circuit controlling member, means for operating the member from one position to another position, means for holding the member in the other position independently of said operating means, said holding means being normally ineffective so as to permit the said operating means to control the return of said circuit controlling member to said one position, and means under the control of said operating means for alternately rendering said holding means effective and ineffective upon successive operations of said operating means.

4. An electric switch comprising a mov able circuit controlling member, a movable member for operating the member from one position to another position and holding the circuit controlling member therein, latch mechanism for holding the member in the other position independently of said movable member, said latch mechanism bein biased to a position to release the switch member, and means whereby the latch mechanism is alternately operated to the latching position and permitted to return to the release position upon successive operations of said movable member into position to hold said circuit controlling member in said other position.

5. An electric switch comprising a movtrolling element is operated to said second po-' sition, said last mechanism being arranged to permit said latch to return to the released position in accordance with its bias upon a subsequent operation vof said operating means into holding relation with said circuit controlling element.

6. An electric switch comprising a movable circuit controlling member, a control member therefor movable to and from one position to effect a corresponding movement of the circuit controlling member to and from one position, means for holding the circuit controlling member in the said'one position independently of said control member, said holding means being normally ineffective, and means associated with said control member and effective upon alternate operation thereof to said one position for rendering said holding means effective.

7. An alternate action switch comprising a movable circuit controlling member, a control member movable to and from one position to effect a corresponding movement of the circuit controlling member to and from one position, latch mechanism for holding the circuit controllingmember in the said one position independently of said control I member, said latch mechanism being biased to a position to release the circuit controlling member for operating under the control of said control member, and connections between the latch mechanism and the said control member whereby the latch mechanism is operated to the latching position upon alternate operation of said control member to said one position. 1

8. An alternate action switch comprising a movable circuit controlling element having a plurality of operative positionsfa latch biased to an inactive position and operable into engagement with said element to maintain the -same in one of said positions, and means for operating the switch element to said one position and for operating said latch into latching engagement therewith, said means being arranged, upon each alternate operation thereof, to release said latch to return to the inactive position in accordance with its bias, and simultaneously maintain said switch element in said one position. 9. alternate action switch comprising an operating member movable between two ositions; a circuit controlling element iased to one position and connected to be operated to another position upon movement of the operating member from the first position to the second position, a latch biased to an inactive position and operatively connected with said operating member to be operated thereby into latching engagement with said circuit controlling element for holding the same in said other position, and means for rendering the connection between said latch and said operating member ineffective upon each alternate operation of the operating member between said first and second positions. A

10'. An alternate action switch comprising a reciprocating circuit controlling member, a rotary latch biased to an inactive position and rotatable into engagement with said switch element for holding the same in a redetcrmined position, an operating memer arranged to operate the switch element to said position and simultaneously rotate the latch into latching engagement there- -with, and an operative connection between the latch and said member arranged to permit the latch to return to the inactive position in accordance with its bias upon each alternate operation of the operating member.

11. An electric switch comprising a movable circuit controlling member, a latch biased to an inactive position and operable into en agement with said switch element for hol ing the same in a predetermined position, an operating member arranged to operate the switch element to said position, means releasably connecting the operating member with said latch to operate-the latch into latching relation with the switch element upon operation of the switch element to said position, and means associated with the latch for releasing said connection upon a subsequent operation of (the operating member to permit the latch to return to the inactive position.

12. An alternate action switch comprising a movable switch member, a movable operatin member therefor, a lost motion connectlon between the switch member and the operating member to permit the return of the operating member after operation of the switch member, a latch for holding the switch'in the operated position independently of the operating member, a mechanism normally establishing an operative connection between the latch and the operating member whereby the latch is operated to the latching position upon operation of the operating member, and means associated with the latch for rendering the connection with said operating member ineffective upon alternate operations of the operating member. 13. An electric switch comprising a movable circuit controlling member, an operating member movable between two positions, connections between the operating member and the switch'member arranged to eliect' operation of the switch member from one position to another position upon a correspondin operation of the operating member, said connections permitting return of the operating member to the initial position independently of the switch member, and latching mechanism for holding the switch member in said other position including a pair of cooperating notched disks releasably connected with the operating'member for alternately efl'ectin operation of the latching mechanism to t e latching position and to'the released position upon successive operation of the operating member.

14. An alternate action electromagnetic switch comprising a movable switch element biased to one position, an electromagnet for operating the switch element to and electromagnetically maintaining the same in another positlon, a latch normally biased to an inactive position to permit the switch element to return to its biased position upon deenergization of the operating electromagnet and arranged to be controlled by the said electromagnet to maintain the switch element in said other position independently of the electromagnet upon each alternate deenergization of the electromagnet.

15. An alternate action electromagnetic switch comprising a reciprocating circuit controlling member biased to the open position, an electroma et having a movable magnetic member or operating the switch element to the closed position, a lost motion connection between the switch member and the magnetic member to permit return of the magnetic member to the initial position independently of the circuit controlling member, a rotary latching disk normally biased to an inactive position and arranged to maintain the switch in the closed position independently of the operating electromagnet when operated into latching relation therewith, releasable connections between the latch, and the magnetic member of the operating electromagnet for operating the latching disk to' th'e latching position upon operation of the magnet'ic member to close the circuit controlling member, and an independently movable disk cooperating with the latching disk to release said connection with 16. The combination with an electromagnetic switch, of a manually operable control device for selectively rendering. the operating electromagnet of the switch effective and ineffective and for mechanically operating the switch between the closed and the open. position while maintaining the.

the circuit opening positions, and a manu ally operable control lever for successively actuating said means to open and close the switch while maintaining -the operating electroma'gnet thereof ineffective.

18. The combination with an electromag netic switch, of a manually operable controller therefor having one position for rendering the operating electromagnet of the switch ineffective and other positions for in dependently operating the switch between the open and closed positions while simultaneously maintaining the operating electromagnet inefi'ective.

19. In an electromagnetically operated switch, the combination with a movable switch member, an operating electromagnet therefor, a lost motion connection between the switch member and the operating electromagnet, manually operated means for rendering the operating electromagnet in effective, andmeans under the control of said first means for operating the switch independently of the operating electromagnet.

20. The combination with an electromagnetic. switch having a movable circuit controlling member and an operating electromagnet therefor, of switch mechanism for short circuiting the operating electromagnet,

mechanism for operating the' circuit controllingelement independently of the operating electromagnet, and a control lever operable from one position to another position for actuating the said switch mechanism to render the operating electromagnet inefli'ec tive and operable to a third position for actuating said mechanism to operate the circuit controlling element while the operating electromagnet is maintained ineffective.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of July, 1926.

ROBERT W. GOFF. 

